Navigating burnout, a busy schedule, and holidays with kids (work-life balance)

PSA: Holidays give me PTSD.

Yes, the festivities are fun. Yes, things are holly, jolly and extra joyous.

But what parents also add to the list is, a new role to the CV. Not just mom, wife, friend, daughter, co-worker, household manager, uber driver, activity organizer, but Santa Claus.

The dude that steals the credit for all the work.

How on earth does one prepare for daycare/ school holidays, while navigating the day-job, while ensuring the house doesn’t look like a tornado has dropped down, while hosting family from in and out of town and preparing a Christmas morning that’s oh-so-merry for your kiddos..

Most times you don’t. It’s a lot. The preparation and the delivery is much like training for an Olympic moment. And nobody wins, if you constantly feel lost.

The part that no one talks about is the post-holiday burnout.

The January blues are real. Parents have just gone through a hyperactive few weeks of overdrive during ‘holidays’ and are now back to the business of routine, work, and budgeting.

Which is why this last quarter of the year, I was dead-set on carving a new path.

There is no secret sauce to navigate a busy season. But, prioritizing my ability to slow down, while it seems like everything it speeding back up, has rewired my mental health to provide focus where it needs to go.

My approach to taking time for myself is a non-negotiable of an hour a day. I JOYFULLY fill my cup at the gym, on a solo walk, cruising the aisles at a grocery store, or solo sipping in the parking lot of a Starbucks. The non-negotiable is that I prioritize my solitude. I am mindful of my time. And I’m even more appreciative of it.

The precious time to myself I take for myself, allows me to be better for everyone else.

Most mornings, I schedule and set my alarm around 5:25am. I head straight to the Keurig, pour my cup, toss in my LEANFIT Collagen & Beauty, open the blinds and sit down to enjoy peace & quiet. I put my phone away and I melt into the moment. Sometimes, I lay on the floor for a good stretch, others I just find solace in wiggling my toes, or brushing my hair. It’s truly a 30 minute chunk that involves me and my thoughts. If panic or anxiety creeps in, I let it go. If guilt tries to wave it’s hand that I should or could be doing something productive, I resist. There is no to-do lists, morning prep, small load of laundry, email or need to do’s. That can be saved for later. This is for me.

The wholeness of self-care is productive.

You can lose yourself in all your roles. But my success story is the consistent ability to find myself all over again.  

Choose yourself, every day and be grateful you did.

Your Path to Progress

January is a fresh start - a time to embrace small, meaningful changes that lead to lasting progress. True transformation happens through daily habits, not drastic, unattainable goals. Whether it’s meal prepping, taking a 10-minute walk on your lunch break, journaling to reflect on your day, adding an extra glass of water or protein to your routine, stretching for 5 minutes in the morning, or swapping one processed snack for a healthier option, every small step is part of your journey. Let’s focus on progress over perfection and build sustainable habits together this year! Slow and steady, wins your race.

Your path to progress is uniquely yours - celebrate the wins, big or small, and recognize the effort it takes to show up every day. We invite you to share your #PathToProgress with us for a chance to be featured in our January campaign. Submit your story, photos, or videos to info@leanfit.com, and each Friday in January 2025, one submission will be randomly selected to win a $100 LEANFIT e-gift card.